Special Coverage

You Dancing Devil finally gets to run

NEW ORLEANS - It has been a frustrating Fair Grounds season for trainers of turf horses. They have seen a number of opportunities washed off the grass and entered for other races that didn't fill.

One of those trainers, Neil Pessin, has been looking for a spot for You Dancing Devil, a multiple stakes-placed 5-year-old Joyeaux Danseur mare. Pessin has had her here all meet but has only gotten a chance to run her once, in a third-level allowance race.

"I've entered her, but the races don't fill," said Pessin. "We must have entered her 12 times since she last ran."

You Dancing Devil finished sixth Jan. 14, but was only 3 1/4 lengths behind the winner.

"She got in a lot of trouble the first time," said Pessin. "She was blocked in from the quarter pole to the sixteenth pole before she actually got a little running room. If she had had a clean trip I think she would have been one-two in the race."

Pessin is hoping that the five-pound weight break that comes along with apprentice Joe Talamo will make a difference this time out.

"She's coming into the race well," he said. "My only concern is that it's a mile. It might be a little short for her, but she's fresh enough that I think she can lay a little bit closer than she normally does. But I wouldn't swap places with anybody."

That's a strong endorsement considering some of the other horses in the race. Tom Proctor has an uncoupled entry in Miss Laken and Bridge Game. Miss Laken, a 5-year-old Dynaformer mare, has a record of 3-3-2 in 11 turf starts. Bridge Game, a 4-year-old Giant's Causeway filly, turned in a spectacular performance running away from second-level allowance foes Jan. 26 at 7 1/2 furlongs. Without urging from Lonnie Meche, she increased her margin through the stretch and galloped out well, suggesting that the extra half-furlong will be no problem.

Kindling, third behind Bridge Game in that race, returned to flatter the form by winning right back, and now will face her again in the next condition up the ladder. Kindling will race as part of a Merrill Scherer-trained entry with Formal Rush, who has won 3 of 6 turf starts and has run in a couple of off-the-grass races this meet.

Provocative Touch looked good beating Kindling two back. Dyna Slam could be tough if she can translate her dirt form to the grass.